document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=830812>Question 830812</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Find the distance between a and -23 on the real number line  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #500901 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=JulietG><B>JulietG(1812)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-12.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=JulietG><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=JulietG><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=500901\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> You'll need to know where a is in order to solve this problem.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Think of a number line like mileage markers on a trail.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If you start at marker -23, how far do you have to go to marker 0?  23<BR>\n" );
document.write( "What about if you're going the other direction?  You start at marker -23 and want to go to marker -48.  How many markers between them?  25<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If you're going from marker -23 to marker +48, you first have to pass zero (which would be 23 markers) and then continue 48 more markers to marker 48.  So it would be 23+48=71.  <BR>\n" );
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document.write( "This requires looking at the number line in a different way than simple addition or subtraction.  The value given (-23) marks a point on the line. </SPAN>\n" );
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